d so disappoint my purpose of rendering it a useful
part or the house. I must confess, my dear Browne, that your arrival
yesterday, agreeable to me for a thousand reasons besides, seemed the
most favourable opportunity of removing the unpleasant rumours which
attached to the room, since your courage was indubitable, and your mind
free of any preoccupation on the subject. I could not, therefore, have
chosen a more fitting subject for my experiment."

"Upon my life," said General Browne, somewhat hastily, "I am infinitely
obliged to your lordship--very particularly indebted indeed. I am likely
to remember for some time the consequences of the experiment, as your
lordship is pleased to call it."

"Nay, now you are unjust, my dear friend," said Lord Woodville. "You
have only to reflect for a single moment, in order to be convinced that
I could not augur the possibility of the pain to which you have been
so unhappily exposed. I was yesterday morning a complete sceptic on the
subject of supernatural appearances. Nay, I am sure that, had I told
you what was said about that room, those very reports would have induced
you, by your own choice, to select it for your accommodation. It was my
misfortune, perhaps my error, but really cannot be termed my fault, that
you have been afflicted so strangely."

"Strangely indeed!" said the General, resuming his good temper; "and I
acknowledge that I have no right to be offended with your lordship for
treating me like what I used to think myself--a man of some firmness
and courage. But I see my post horses are arrived, and I must not detain
your lordship from your amusement."

"Nay, my old friend," said Lord Woodville, "since you cannot stay with
us another day--which, indeed, I can no longer urge--give me at least
half an hour more. You used to love pictures, and I have a gallery of
portraits, some of them by Vandyke, representing ancestry to whom this
property and castle formerly belonged. I think that several of them will
strike you as possessing merit."

General Browne accepted the invitation, though somewhat unwillingly.
It was evident he was not to breathe freely or at ease till he left
Woodville Castle far behind him. He could not refuse his friend's
invitation, however; and the less so, that he was a little ashamed
of the peevishness which he had displayed towards his well-meaning
entertainer.

The General, therefore, followed Lord Woodville through several rooms
into a long g